No it didn't as draw master John Willan was in invited to return to run tonights draws to celebrate the occasion, but in his retirement he'd lost his powers couldn't operate the equipment, therefore they could not proceed. The draw took place a little while later but was not aired.

It made me realise how commercial the whole programme is and it really doesn't fit on the BBC at all. It will be the kind of thing we look back on in a few years time and find it hard to believe it was ever allowed to happen. See also promoting the Radio Times in junctions, running BBC Select as a subscription service, CBBC on Nickelodeon and the Robinsons sponsorship of Sports Personality of the Year.
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I don't think that's an equal comparison at all, While it's licenced to Camelot it is a State Franchise.

At one stage the BBC were paying Camelot for it. I'd hope that would have been sorted.

The amount Camelot will spend on studios will not have a direct impact on the amount from each ticket that goes to good causes. This is set and agreed with The National Lottery Commission. Camelot's revenue percentage has not changed since launch.

Indeed, I really don't get why Camelot have decided to move their studio to Pinewood from their own HQ. Why go to all the expense for nothing

As others have pointed out - the draw has never come from Camelot's HQ. Alan has often referred to the studio it has come from as "Lottery HQ" - but that's more a telly-thing.

The draws were originally OBs, then moved to studios in TVC. Then they moved to Arqiva's studios in Buckinghamshire, which are on the BFBS site (effectively a military base - so very secure). However Arqiva's studios there were SD and very small (when they did music numbers on the show they had to pre-record them in the same area that the draw took place in)

Moving to Pinewood as allowed them to go HD (a must now) and given them a more practical space. I've no idea of the resourcing arrangement Endemol (not the BBC - it's an indie) will have had with Arqiva and now Pinewood. If the BBC recommissioned Endemol to make the show, it will no doubt have included HD production in the new commission (it's the default these days) - so that may have meant they had to leave Arqiva?

So the theme is a bit rubbish - studio is nice enough though and like what they've done with the machine. No live Thunderball draw though - and no obvious location in the studio for future draws.

49-1 a bit odd - surely not funded by the BBC as they wouldn't give out £110,000 in a one minute segment - and a bigger prize than the raffle. Lotto have really screwed up this revamp IMO - seems stupid giving away £20m for two weeks on the new Lotto Raffle and only bumping the jackpot to £10m. Would have been better off boosting the jackpot to £20m, even £25m, and giving away £5-£10m on the raffle instead of the usual £1m. Notice too the BBC only mentioned the increased jackpot and three ball prize - no mention of the reduced prizes for other levels.

No it didn't as draw master John Willan was in invited to return to run tonights draws to celebrate the occasion, but in his retirement he'd lost his powers couldn't operate the equipment, therefore they could not proceed. The draw took place a little while later but was not aired.

Given the hype Chris Evans gave in his Radio Times interview this week (even slagging off previous lottery shows) it was very disappointing indeed wasn't it. Not that you can do a lot with 15 minutes, but they managed back in the day to make it feel like event TV.